In a finish that defied belief and shattered hearts, Burkina Faso engineered one of the most extraordinary comebacks in recent Africa Cup of Nations history, scoring twice deep into added time to snatch a 2-1 victory from the desperate grasp of ten-man Equatorial Guinea.
On a dramatic Christmas Eve at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, the Stallions transformed impending despair into unbridled ecstasy in the space of three chaotic minutes, ensuring their Group E campaign began with three vital points secured in the most stunning fashion imaginable.
From the outset, the match unfolded as a tense tactical duel. Burkina Faso, ranked thirty-five places above their opponents and riding a wave of confidence from a strong pre-tournament run, immediately sought to impose their will.
Under the guidance of coach Brama Traoré, Les Étalons adopted a proactive approach, pushing their defensive line high and looking to exploit the pace and trickery of wingers like Bertrand Traoré and Dango Ouattara. Their intention was clear: control the tempo, dominate territory, and stretch the Equatoguinean defense.
For their part, Juan Micha’s Equatorial Guinea, often resilient underdogs on this continental stage, responded with disciplined organization. They settled into a compact 4-1-4-1 formation, effectively closing the central channels and funneling Burkina Faso’s attacks toward the flanks, where crosses could be dealt with.
The first half, while competitive, was characterized more by physical intensity than clear-cut opportunity. Burkina Faso enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and looked the more likely, with early half-chances falling to Bertrand Traoré and defender Issoufou Dayo.
Dango Ouattara, in particular, was a persistent menace, repeatedly driving at the defense, though a combination of last-ditch tackling, exemplified by a superb sliding challenge from Pablo Ganet, and a lack of final precision kept the scoreboard untroubled. Equatorial Guinea’s threat was sporadic but present, with José MachÃn sending a warning with a powerful long-range effort that skimmed past the post.
As the teams headed for the interval, the match was finely poised, a goalless stalemate that promised a tense second act.
That tension exploded just five minutes after the restart in an incident that irrevocably altered the game’s trajectory. A clumsy, studs-up challenge by Equatorial Guinea defender Basilio Ndong on Bertrand Traoré’s right ankle initially drew a yellow card from referee Mohamed Maarouf Eid Mansour.
However, the intervention of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) prompted an on-field review. After consulting the monitor, the referee’s decision was upgraded, and Ndong was shown a straight red card, earning the unfortunate distinction of being the first player dismissed at the 2025 AFCON.
Reduced to ten men, Equatorial Guinea’s task became one of heroic resistance. Coach Micha shuffled his pack, introducing Charles Ondo for forward Luis Asue in a move signaling a shift to outright defensive conservatism.
With a numerical advantage, Burkina Faso laid siege to their opponent’s goal. The pressure intensified, but a combination of resolute defending, poor finishing, and sheer bad luck continued to frustrate them. Goalkeeper Jesús Owono was called into action, saving well from Ouattara after a fine through ball from Gustavo Sangaré. Midfielder Pierre Landry Kabore headed wide from a promising position.
Then, in the 71st minute, the Stallions thought they had finally broken through. A cross from the right found Ouattara, who nodded the ball across the six-yard box for substitute Lassina Traoré to volley home.
Jubilant celebrations erupted, only to be cut agonizingly short after a lengthy VAR review ruled Traoré offside by the slimmest of margins. The emotional whiplash was palpable; Equatorial Guinea’s bench celebrated the reprieve as if they had scored, while Burkina Faso’s players were left to ponder if it simply was not their day.
As the clock ticked into the 85th minute, the unthinkable happened. Against the relentless run of play, Equatorial Guinea won a corner on the left. Carlos Akapo delivered an inviting cross into the box, where substitute Marvin Anieboh, arriving with perfect timing and determination, rose above the Burkinabé defense to plant a magnificent header into the top corner of the net.
The stadium, save for a pocket of delirious Equatoguinean supporters, fell into a state of shock. The ten men, who had defended with such heart for forty minutes, had stolen a lead. It was a goal born of sheer defiance, and it looked set to be the winner, a monumental upset in the making.
The fourth official’s board indicated eight minutes of added time, a glimmer of hope for a Burkina Faso side now staring at a disastrous start to their tournament. What followed in those minutes will be etched into AFCON folklore. Pushing every player forward in a final, desperate assault, Burkina Faso’s persistence finally carved open a stunned defense.
In the fifth minute of added time, a long ball caused havoc in the penalty area. In a scramble, Dango Ouattara went down under a challenge, but before the referee could consider a whistle, the ball fell to another substitute, Georgi Minoungou. The forward showed remarkable composure to steer a low finish into the net, sending the Burkinabé fans into raptures and leveling the score at 1-1.
Chaos reigned. Equatorial Guinea, physically and emotionally drained from their gargantuan effort, had no time to reorganize. Before they could catch their breath, Burkina Faso surged forward again. In the 98th minute, winger Cyriaque Irié reached the byline and fizzed a dangerous cross toward the near post.
Goalkeeper Owono could only palm the ball away, and it fell perfectly for center-back Edmond Tapsoba, who had joined the attack. The Bayer Leverkusen defender made no mistake, thumping a header into the net to complete a breathtaking, jaw-dropping turnaround. The final whistle blew shortly after, confirming a 2-1 victory for Burkina Faso and leaving the Equatoguinean players collapsed on the turf, utterly devastated.
The statistics painted a picture of ultimate frustration for the losers and barely-believable relief for the winners. Burkina Faso dominated with 67 percent possession and launched sixteen shots to Equatorial Guinea’s five. Yet, they needed a three-minute miracle at the death to validate their superiority.
For Equatorial Guinea, the cruelty of the result was immense. They had executed a near-perfect defensive plan for 94 minutes, shown incredible bravery after the red card, and taken a late lead through Anieboh’s header, only to see it vanish in the cruelest manner.
Coach Juan Micha now faces the difficult task of lifting his squad for a crucial match against Sudan, while also deciding whether to call upon Emilio Nsue, the top scorer at the 2023 tournament who remained an unused substitute throughout this ordeal.
For Burkina Faso, the victory is a massive psychological and logistical boost. They sit second in Group E with three points, behind Algeria who defeated Sudan 3-0 in the day’s other match. The spirit shown in never surrendering will bind the team together, though coach Traoré will be concerned about the profligacy that nearly cost them dearly.